Austin girls back on winning track
High school basketball

Austin bounced back from its first girls' high school basketball loss by burying visiting Ridgway Thursday night, 42-17.

"I was pleased with the way the girls responded to our first defeat," said Panther coach Dick Logue. "We played very good team ball, controlled the boards and were very stingy on defense."

Rayna Valenti led the scoring with 22 points and Hilary Gordnier pulled down 13 rebounds for the Panthers, who led 11-0 early in the second quarter.

Kane took advantage of visiting Austin's cold shooting hand to beat the Panthers Monday night, 39- 22.

"The shots just didn't fall," Logue lamented. "We played good defense and did a decent job on the boards, but the ball just wouldn't go in."

On Saturday, Austin came home from Cowanesque Valley with a 43-28 victory. Crosby had seven rebounds to go with 15 points, six steals and four assists. Valenti scored 17 points with four assists.

The Panthers (6-1) return to the court Dec. 26-27 in the Port Allegany Holiday Tournament, taking on Smethport in the first round. They open Northern Tier League play at home Jan. 2 with a big game against defending champion Coudersport.